A/N: Howdy y'all. I've been reading and listening to fanfics nearly daily for the last year or so and I thought, FUCK IT. And I decided to try my hand in this. This is my first fanfic so…um…pwease dont be mean pwease, but im open to criticism and advice. Also, im not sure why many writers add a disclaimer in their fics as if companies are scouring this site to find someone to sue. But..*ahem* I DO NOT OWN NARUTO, NARUTO BELONGS TO KISHIMOTO MUSASHI and I DO NOT OWN ANY SONG REFERENCES SHOWN IN THIS CHAPTER, THEY BELONG TO LINKIN PARK. Also, in this story Hinata is not going to be like canon, what I wish to do is showcase more character depth, development, and the effects of abuse and/or bullying on people.
Kyuubi is an oversized bunny. = Narrator or third-person POV
'Kyuubi is an oversized bunny.' = Character thought
"Kyuubi is an oversized bunny." = Character speech
"Kyuubi is an oversized bunny." = Bijuu speech (Bold)
Italicized words = Sarcastic tone/tone change
Underlined words = Change of scene
Flower of the Abyss: Hinata's Story
Hyuuga Compound: 2 Years After Kumo Affair
Noises can be heard echoing all over the courtyard of the Hyuuga compound where you can sometimes see clan members training. Currently, an older-looking man with stern features and the typical Hyuuga pearl white eyes wearing traditional Hyuuga robes is training with a young girl, around the age of 5 with similar eyes with a lavender tint. Well, from this man's perspective, he is training her, teaching her the ways of the clans fighting style, teaching her to become a proper member of the clan, watering the seed so she can one day become a blossoming flower to represent one of the strongest and prestigious clans in Konoha. But to anyone looking from the outside and especially from the perspective of Hinata, it was abuse. "WEAK! PUT MORE FORCE IN YOUR STRIKES!"
Not just physical abuse, but arguably a worse type of abuse. The type of abuse that does not aim for physical harm, but harm to the heart. It has been said that the pen is mightier than the sword. This particular man takes that saying to heart, but not for the right reasons. This man, no, this animal is currently destroying Hinata's heart one imaginary pen stroke after another. Almost as if he wishes to erase the short story she has written up to this point only to rewrite it in his image. This animal is known as Hiashi Hyuuga, clan head of the Hyuuga clan and the leader of the clan's free main house branch, born as a twin brother to Hizashi Hyuuga, former head of the enslaved branch house.
Former for the latter due to his death 2 years ago due to political tensions between the Hyuuga clan of Konoha and Kumogakure due to one of Kumo's delegate's attempted kidnapping of Hinata. But inside the clan, he is known as the father of Hinata, the current Heiress to the clan head seat, but what kind of father is he? "Umph!" "EEP!" A small feminine noise echoes around the courtyard for the umteenth time on this clear, sunny day.
Hyuuga Compound: Courtyard
The previously mentioned man and his currently physically and emotionally injured daughter can be seen in the middle of the courtyard; one is standing, clearly Hiashi, and the other has been turned into a groveling mess on the ground by that same monster, you can guess which one is on the ground.
"Hinata, stand, stand with grace, you are the future of our clan, I will not allow such weakness to be our future. If you fail to become a proper Hyuuga, you will be cast to that slave branch," said the man, coldly, as if he were looking at some small insect with the same contempt.
"Y-y-yes father," said the broken, young girl.
The poor excuse for training lasted for a few more hours until Hinata went back into the compound and to her room for a much-needed shower.
Hyuuga Compound: 3 Years After Kumo Affair
Despite the clear abuse, Hinata has been able to grasp the basics of the gentle fist, the Hyuuga fighting style. She has also been able to learn a basic chakra control exercise such as the leaf sticking exercise where you stick a leaf on your forehead with chakra, although only main branch members can show their foreheads with pride. All branch house members when starting out, due to their much-understood shame and guilt around the caged bird seal on their foreheads, have to stick a leaf to their nose, chin, or back of their hand.
Despite being of the same clan, there is a clear difference between the branch house of the Hyuuga clan. All branch members are to serve the main house, nothing more, nothing less. They are to be the clan's shield, to be the first to take any hit for the main house, to be the first to sacrifice, to be the first to have their blood spilled for the greater good, against their consent, while the main house is the shiny, strong sword that stands parallel to the sun, erect with pride and premier.
"For the greater good, for the greater good, for the greater good, they say, for the greater good, HE, says." said a now 6-year-old Hinata with a hint of venom while laying on her bed after another day of training.
She was told just after training with a certain monster that she will be entering the ninja academy soon and then told the usual Hyuuga propaganda. Something about being the pride of the clan and side branch trash. Hinata, feeling a currently not very well-known feeling rile up inside her, left soon after where we can now find her. She will, unfortunately, become well acquainted with that feeling in the future.
If that wasn't all of her problems, it seems as if the village is also against her. Just yesterday, Hinata was walking around the village after another destructive lecture by her father, when she encountered 3 boys, all a couple of years older than her. Unsurprisingly, the boys, being civilians, are not used to seeing a Hyuuga and got spooked by her eyes. What did they do you may ask? Well, nothing that different from what Hinata's own father did. They bullied her, ridiculed her "Alien" looking eyes, and said that she was weak and frail, an embarrassment to the clan she is supposed to be from.
The biggest difference between what the boys said and what Hiashi may say, is that her eyes were weird or ugly. Hiashi, being the 'pole-up-the-rectum' fanatic that he is, would say something like, "the greatest doujutsu in Konoha." or "Heavenly eyes that were given to us by Kami." Another major difference was the appearance of a certain blond pariah of Konoha, Naruto Uzumaki. Naruto, being who he was, all bark no bite, subsequently got his ass kicked by the boys, but they then lost interest and walked away.
Hinata met Naruto roughly a year ago and has been infatuated with his energy. Despite being a brash idiot, he is in a sense, a light in Hinatas currently dark and unsainted world. A light to guide HInata from a void of darkness and depression that she was in the figurative fast lane towards if she was not already at her unwanted destination. Hinata also has had another light added, this light was in the form of Hanabi, her 1-year young baby sister, unfortunately, what little luck Hinata had, had decreased even more with the death of her mother right after giving birth to Hanabi. This if ever so slightly, pushed Hinata further to the edge of despair.
To keep herself from total destruction, Hinata started taking up songwriting and has begun writing 2 songs to her best ability, at least the best that a 6-year-old who has been through more than many adults went through can do. Hinata sometimes heard her mother singing while running errands around the compound. One of which, Hinata found written or more like half completed on a piece of paper in her mother's room on a nightstand. Hinata ran from the office of Hiashi into her mom's room after receiving the news from her ever-stoic father who seemed to be even more cold than usual when telling her the news. Hinata's main goal now is to finish the half-written song her mother wrote, and also finish writing a song that explains her boiling feelings of anger, no, rage for her father.
Hyuuga Compound: First Year of Academy, Age 7
After arriving back at the compound from her first day at the ninja academy, Hinata is currently in the office of the 'ever-so-majestic', Hiashi Hyuuga for another progress report on her skills.
"You have learned the basics of the gentle fist, but yet you struggle to grow further. Why is this?" Said the clan head.
"I-i-i am s-s-s-still-"
"ENOUGH!" interrupted Hiashi. "That is why, why do lack a backbone? You may be young, but you are a Hyuuga, you will carry yourself with dignity in the face of pressure, am I understood." He demanded.
"Y-yes sir!" Hinata studdered.
"Hm, we will see, you are now in the academy, I expect nothing but the best from you these next few years, no daughter of mine will be anything less than the top of the class." Said the prick.
"Y-yes sir." Hinata said while a certain feeling started to rise again in her stomach.
Hiashi looked at her again with dark eyes then said, "You are dismissed, we will begin intermediate lessons tomorrow after the academy, I hope to see faster growth in the gentle fist."
Hinata bowed and then left the office bounding towards her room.
Hinata was about to walk past Hanabi's room, but she paused. Usually, one of the trusted servants would have Hanabi in bed around the evening for a baby nap, so Hinata moved closer to Hanabi's room door, then cracked it open slightly to see her baby sister, Hanabi, peacefully sleeping in her elegant crib. Although Hanabi is currently sleeping in a very, 'un-Hyuuga' like fashion, with her sprawled out on her stomach with a small river of drool pooling out as you can hear her soft snores. Hinata lets out a soft giggle and then closes the door, aiming to go back to her room.
While walking back to her room, memories of the conversation Hinata just had with her father flashback into her mind. The previous feeling of warmth after seeing her sister fades away to make room for rage.
Hyuuga Compound: Hinata's Room
Hinata had to leave. It was becoming unbearable to see his face. That face. The face of an absolute monster who gets pleasure from her suffering. The face of something who only looks at her as if she were nothing but prey, something equivalent to a fly that was going to get crushed and forgotten.
"Maybe he's right…I…am I w-w-w-weak…..n-n-...no...no…no…damn him.." Whispered Hinata after closing her door. "Why…why….why does he treat me like this…..what did I do in my last life to deserve t-th-this." Hinata says as she slides down to the floor with her back against the door. "E-everyone thinks I'm weak, brother Neji hates me, h-h-he looks at me with the same eyes as….Him.." Hinata, now in the sanctuary of her room, allows herself to break down into tears, releasing a bit of the pain that someone her age should've never been holding.
That man, that is no man, that is a demon in human form. Hinata was sick. The endless physical abuse that is described as training. The endless words that stab her young heart like a sword through a chest from not just her own father but also others in the village and from members of the side branch, most notable of which, Neji. Neji, before the death of his father, was like a brother to Hinata, but after the death of Hizashi, that love, that pure innocent love of a child, turned to hate and scorn.
"No…No….NO…that MAN…THAT MAN IS.." Hinata growled out. She then stopped herself from going further before she completely lost herself in anger. Some of that Hyuuga training is starting to affect her subconsciously.
Around others Hinata was an emotional wreck, timid, quiet, and in private, she was still a wreck, but one filled with pent-up rage for the life she was given. The life she even would admit, she would not wish on her worse enemies. She has taken to songwriting a year ago and uses it to express her emotions in ways that she would not get in trouble for.
'After all, it would be unbefitting of a Hyuuga to yell at their clan head, especially if said clan head was their father.' Hinata scoffs, ignoring the fact that she thought that with such an amount of venom that no one would expect from a young girl. After calming slightly, she made her way to her bed, got out her trusty notebook, and started writing. For the next hour, Hinata wrote. She wrote out her heart, everything she felt about her father. The anger, no, the rage, the pure rage she has been forced to bottle up and hide for the sake of maintaining some form of Hyuuga dignity in public. When Hinata finished, she got up to stretch and walked to her window to see the now-setting sun. She then began to sing out loud part of what she wrote.
"I'm tired of being what you want me to be
feeling so faithless, lost under the surface.
Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes.
Every step that I take is another mistake to you."
Hinata breathes then lets out with slightly more force than normal.
"I've become so numb
I can't feel you there
Become so tired
So much more aware
I'm becoming this
All I want to do
IS BE MORE LIKE ME
AND BE LESS LIKE YOU!"
Hinata pants slightly then continued in a whisper with tears starting to run down her face.
"And I know
I may end up failing too
But I know
You were just like me with someone disappointed in you."
END OF CHAPTER 1